In-vehicle networking

ABSTRACT

A system and method for securing communication across an in-vehicle bus, includes establishing a connection between a gateway in a vehicle and the in-vehicle bus; generating a session key at the gateway within the vehicle; transmitting a public key certificate and ephemeral key to the gateway and an electronic control unit of the vehicle; generating a shared secret at the gateway and the electronic control unit, respectively; encrypting the session key with the shared secret at the gateway; receiving the encrypted session key through the in-vehicle bus at the electronic control unit; and decrypting the encrypted session key based on the shared secret generated at the electronic control unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates to networks and more particularly to protocolsthat provide secure communication over vehicle networks.

2. Related Art

In-vehicle networks were developed by automotive manufactures to reducetailpipe emissions, increase fuel economy, and improve vehicledrivability. The network's point-to-point connections transferred databetween vehicle components. But as components and capabilitiesincreased, the complexity and size of the networks became larger,impractical, and expensive.

To reduce complexity and cost, serial buses were developed thatfacilitated communication with embedded vehicle systems. One suchsystem, known as a Controller Area Network (CAN), is a low cost lightprotocol system that allows microcontrollers to communicate openly withone another. The protocol includes built in features such as a cyclicalredundancy code (CRC) check that allows vehicle application to detecterrors during transmission, storage, and retrieval.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventions can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, likereferenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views.

FIG. 1 illustrates electronic control units communicating across anin-vehicle bus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a multi-level security platform.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a key exchange.

FIG. 4 shows key exchange of FIG. 3 between an electronic control unitand a gateway.

FIG. 5 is a message flow diagram for updating keys.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While designed to provide an efficient cost-effective structure forin-vehicle communication, both commercial and open sourceimplementations of CAN networks are inherently insecure as they rely ongood behavior to prevent attacks. No arbitrator is needed to resolvedisputes on these networks because good behavior is assured.

While good behavior may work well in unconnected cars, it provides noprotection for vehicles that connect to infrastructure (V-2-I), toretail (V-2-R), and to persons (V-2-P) outside of the car throughin-vehicle and remote networks. Connected cars may be attacked by simplyeavesdropping on the vehicle's network. In these attacks, the attackeris difficult to detect because the attacker does not affect the datathat flows across the network despite their unauthorized access. Theattacker need not be a stranger; he or she can be a legitimate userwithout privileges. Alternatively, an attacker may actively intervene onthe vehicle's network to change data or gain a malicious advantage.

A point of attack is the bus itself and the ability to physically attachto the network at any point and begin surveillance and/or attack. Thisphysically connected mode of attack may occur when an attacker targets avehicle population for study and evaluation. It is from this vantagepoint that the attacker can plan a remote attack. The recent notorietyof a connected vehicle attack was likely possible because of theprerequisite series of physically connected attacks and resultingexploits. Subsequently, the ability to preclude or disrupt physicallyconnected attacks and their exploits is a problem in need of a solution.

The disclosed system and process provide a secure communication protocolover an insecure infrastructure. The secure protocol allows securecommunication over an unsecure in-vehicle network that may provideconnectivity to networks outside of the vehicle while ensuring theintegrity and provenance of the data transmitted across it. This meansthat in-vehicle systems can communicate with each other over an openinfrastructure in a vehicle or to an arbitrary remote or localdestination outside of the vehicle and be reasonably sure that itscommunication will be received in tact and protected in transit from anunauthorized party or destination. The secure protocol provides a seriesof steps that enable two or more parties to exchange information throughcryptographic security. Using cryptographic parameters, the secureprotocol is interoperable with independent programs and libraries (e.g.,a collection of software and data files that perform different tasks).By allowing migration from one cryptographic primitive to the next, thesecure protocol is extensible, efficient, and updatable allowing it todefend against new threats and keep up with improvements that come withtechnological efficiencies.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle connected to a remote node or remote destinationthrough a wireless network. The vehicle includes multiple electroniccontrol units (ECUs) and interfaces that are embedded in the vehicle tocontrol one or more of the vehicle's systems or subsystems from withinthe vehicle. Example ECUs and interfaces include, without limitation, anelectronic/engine control module (ECM), a powertrain control module(PCM), a transmission control module (TCM), a brake control module(BCM), a central control module (CCM), a central timing module (CTM), ageneral electronic module (GEM), a body control module (BCM), asuspension control module (SCM), an entertainment and comfort controlmodule (ECCM), a passive keyless entry (PKE), a remote link applicationinterface, a dedicated short range communication transceiver (DSRCT)vehicle-to-vehicle (V-2-V), V-2-I, V-2-R, and/or V-2-P, an engine andtransmission unit, an airbag module, a lighting module, a vehicle accesssystem, an on-board diagnostics interface (OBDI), a universal serial businterface, a Bluetooth interface, a smartphone interface, etc., five ofwhich are designated by reference numbers 1-5 in FIG. 1.

In some systems, the ECUs, such as those depicted in FIG. 1, areconsolidated into one or more domain controllers which harness anadvanced multiprocessor architecture. The multiprocessors executesoftware tailored to each electrical systems or subsystems it controls.It is capable of managing concurrent vehicle systems/subsystems that maybe different from each other, execute one or more cipher suites with agateway, and may provide access to cryptographic key storage. The use ofone or more domain controllers exposes fewer nodes for attack.

In FIG. 1, ECUs 1-5 are connected to an in-vehicle communication linkthat is also called an in-vehicle network and in-vehicle bus in thisdisclosure. A CAN bus is an example of an in-vehicle bus. The ECUs areembedded electronic devices (e.g., specialized digital computers orsignal processors) that read signals transmitted from in-vehicle sensorspositioned in various parts of the vehicle to monitor vehicleconditions. The sensors detect or measure conditions by convertingnonelectrical energy into discrete or analog signals. The ECUs, such asan advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) capable of communicatingover the air (OTA), a powertrain controller, a braking system, and acluster, for example, shown in FIG. 2 communicate through a root oftrust (RoT) that may be remote from (as shown in the trust anchor inFIG. 2) or a unitary part of a gateway. The RoT serves as separatecomputing engine made up of hardware and software that are inherentlytrusted. The RoT controls the trusted computing platform's cryptographicprocessor that may be embedded in the gateway within the vehicle, maysecurely store the cryptographic keys, may securely store thecertificate chains, may provide application and data isolation, and/ormay securely sign certificates that are associated or verified by thesecure protocol. As shown, all of the vehicle content (e.g., Body ECU,Braking ECU, Power Train ECU, Cluster ECU, ADAS ECU, etc.,) beyond thegateway is positioned on the trusted side of the RoT (to the right ofthe trust anchor), though in other configurations and implementationssome controllers may not be. For example, a Body ECU that has a very lowprocessing capabilities may be connected to the in-vehicle communicationlink on the untrusted side (to the left of the trust anchor) because ofits limited functions or its function as an endpoint to a higher levelcontroller. In FIG. 2, the Body ECU is shown on the trusted side becauseit functions may include controlling headlights, power windows and/ordoor locks, all of which can be integrated into an exploit (e.g., noheadlights at night, open windows in a thunderstorm, etc.).

In FIG. 2, an OBD interface, telematics control unit (TCU) and anIn-Vehicle infotainment (IVI) ECU communicates with the gateway acrossthe in-vehicle communication link. The IVI manages and delivers audiocontent, provides navigation data, delivers rear-seat entertainment suchas movies, games, social networking functions, etc., listens forincoming and sends outgoing short message service (SMS) text messages,makes/receives phone calls, and/or may access Internet-enabled orsmartphone-enabled content that may include traffic reports, sportsscores and weather forecasts, for example. The OBD provides access tothe vehicle's self-diagnostic and reporting capability delivered throughthe in-vehicle communication link.

Connections with the in-vehicle communication link begins with thegateway generating a symmetric session key and an ephemeral key pairwhen power or ignition is cycled in the vehicle. The same key pair isused for each cryptographic shared secret exchange with each networknode individually in some implementations. Once certificates andephemeral keys are exchanged, the gateway accepts node requests for asession key. A session key is a key that is used for one communicationsession—such as communication that occurs during a single ignition cycle(e.g., the starting and the driving of a car and then shutting it offwould be an ignition cycle) or power cycle (e.g., turning a device onand then off)—and then the session key is discarded.

The first thing each node does when it comes on online is retrieve thesession key when an asymmetric handshake occurs. The session key is thesame for all nodes on the in-vehicle network. However, since the securedprotocol processes certificates, it establishes a shared secret, whichis specific and in some instances unique for each node—gateway pair orgroup per power cycle/ignition cycle. The shared secret known only tothe devices involved in the secure communication is used to encrypt thesession key before it is transmitted across the network to a node.

Each node on the network initiates the session key exchange as soon asit comes online. When a vehicle powers up at 302, the gateway generatesthe symmetric session key and a HELLO message is sent individually andseparately from each node to the gateway and RoT (hereinafter consideredpart of the gateway) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A node includes any dataprocessing device including ECUs, domain controllers, processingdevices, etc. coupled through a communication medium or link. In thesecure protocol, the HELLO message comprises two bytes of data thatincludes information about the sending node such as its identification,for example.

HELLO (ID: 0X011) Byte 1 Byte 2 Source ID

In response, the gateway and node provide certificates and ephemeralpublic keys to one another (the receiving node and gateway),respectively at 304 and 306 as shown in FIG. 3. The 304 and 306 sequencecan be executed concurrently or out-of-turn. The certificates areinstalled when the vehicle is manufactured (e.g., prior to vehicleassembly) or during service (e.g., during component repair and/orreplacement). They provide authentication for each active node andgateway communicating across the in-vehicle bus. Authentication issimilar to the validation of secure sockets layer (SSL) certificates.The certificate and gateway's ephemeral key are formatted in eight byteformats in two parts (Data 1 and Data 2). The first two bytes of thegateway's certificate and ephemeral key (the first packet) are the IDfields that contain the destinations unique identifier, enabling thegateway to communicate with the proper node on the vehicle network. Thethird byte is the counter that tracks the number of packets transmitted,with the remaining five bytes reserved for the payload.

GATEWAY CERTIFICATE (ID: 0X12) Byte Byte 1 Byte 2 Byte 3 Byte 4 Byte 5Byte 6 Byte 7 8 Destination ID Counter PayloadHere, a “packet” is the block of data used for transmitting informationthat may include payload and non-payload portions; the “payload” is thedata of interest; and a “non-payload” is the packet data that is notpayload data, such as routing or configuration information, for example.In some instances, the payload may include the frames transmitted on aCAN bus, such as a data frame, a remote frame, an error frame and/or anoverload frame.

In the data frame (shown below), the first two bytes designate theoverall length of the gateway certificate and ephemeral public key, thenext two bytes designate the length of Data 1 (e.g., the gatewaycertificate, the wrapped session key, etc.), and the remaining fourbytes are reserved for the payload. The fields that follow the secondpacket reserve the first two bytes of the packets for the length of D2and the remaining bytes for the corresponding data D2. Under thisformat, the secure protocol transmits as many packets as needed.

Byte Byte Byte Byte Byte Byte 1 2 3 4 Byte 5 — Byte N N + 1 N + 2 —Overall Length Data 1 Data 1 . . . Data 2 Data 2 . . . Length Length

When received at a node, the getaway messages are unpacked, thegateway's certificate is reassembled and validated, and the gateway'spublic key is extracted from the certificate. Both the gateway's publickey and ephemeral public key are then processed by the node to generatethe shared secret at 308 through a cryptographic operation such asthrough an Elliptic Curve Menezes-Qu-Vanstone (ECMQV) cipher suite, forexample.

Like the format of the gateway certificate, the node or unit certificateand its ephemeral key transmitted to the gateway at 306 have nearly thesame format as the gateway's certificate messages. A substantivedifference is that the destination ID field enables the gateway todistinguish node packets on the CAN bus. Conventional CAN protocol doesnot use addressing schemes, and thus, the destination ID serves thatfunction. In alternative implementations the ID fields are not used,especially when locations (e.g., addresses) are identified in alternateprotocols. When received at the gateway, the node messages are unpacked,the node's certificate is reassembled and validated, and the node'spublic key is extracted from the certificate. Both the node's public keyand ephemeral public key are then processed by the gateway to generatethe shared secret at 308 through the same cryptographic operationperformed at the node. In this example, it is the ECMQV cipher suite.

The existing session key is then encrypted using the shared secretthrough a symmetric cryptographic operation at 310. The session keymessage transmitted to the node in FIG. 4 adheres to a similar format asthe gateway certificate. The substantive difference is that instead oftwo pieces of data, the payload contains one—the encrypted session key.

Byte Byte 1 Byte 2 Byte 3 Byte 4 Byte 5 Byte 6 Byte 7 8 Destination IDCounter Payload

In this implementation, the secure protocol uses a single session keyper power cycle/ignitron cycle. In alternative implementations, thesecure protocol can update a session key. Regardless of the version,once a successful session key extraction occurs at a node, the gatewayis notified at 312. As shown in FIG. 4, the secure connection iscomplete when an acknowledgement is received. The acknowledgement istransported in two bytes.

ACKNOWLEDGE (ID: 0X019) Byte 1 Byte 2 Source ID

With the secure protocol negotiated, ECUs and domain controllers maycommunicate using hash based message authentication codes (HMAC) thatare validated at the receiving destinations. In a CAN or in-vehicle busapplication, the first eight bytes of the first packet (not shown) of asecure ECU/domain controller-gateway exchange contain the data generatedby the ECU/domain controller that takes the normal format thatECUs/domain controllers transmit across in-vehicle networks. HMAC codeworks by interleaving the first packet data, padded with zeroes to thetotal length of 8 bytes, with the session key and a counter valuethrough a hash algorithm that converts the input into a small fixedlength output, such as six or more bytes. In order for the reading ECUto validate the data, it needs to have the counter and the same sessionkey. The counter is provided with the second packet.

In the second packet of the secure ECU/domain controller-gatewayexchange, the schema appends three bits of zeros, as a second packetidentifier, twenty-nine bits of the source ID of the node outputtingdata, and a counter. Under the secure protocol, each authenticatormessage contains a count larger than the counter that directly precededacross the in-vehicle network. In some implementations, the counter maybe random or variable, may be encrypted, but it is not a time stamp. Thecounter effectively prevents replay and suppress-replay attacks thatreplay responses from a previous execution. In one implementation, thecounter is programmed to fall within a range that ensures that thecounter does not zero out during a session; requiring the second packetto reserve four bytes or more for the counter as shown. Here, thecounter is a variable that keeps count of the messages transportedacross the in-vehicle network.

AUTHENTICATOR (Second Packet) Byte Byte Byte Byte Byte Byte Byte 1 Byte2 3 4 5 6 7 8 3 bits of 0s Source ID Count 5 bits of Source ID

In the third packet of the secure ECU/domain controller-gatewayexchange, the signature allows the gateway to match the packet to thesecond one, as after receiving the second packet, the reader cancalculate the resulted HMAC value by using the counter, the session keyand the data from the first packet. The third packet is shown below.

SIGNATURE (ID: 0X01) (Third Packet) Byte Byte Byte Byte 1 Byte 2 Byte 34 Byte 5 6 Byte 7 8 3 bits of 1s HMAC Signature 5 bits of 0s

The three packet secure ECU/domain controller-gateway exchange has manybenefits including efficiently routing the packets without transportingthe source ID in all three packets (e.g. see the third packet:SIGNATURE). It also streamlines the verification process at the gatewayand node, so that when a byte-to-byte comparison of the received packetsto previously stored trusted packets/information reveal that a packet iscompromised or corrupted, the ECU waits for a second packet (havingcounter and CAN ID, linking it to the data packet) and a third packet,which does not have the ID, but rather HMAC hash incorporating the data,session key and the counter. The first data packet is ignored anddiscarded after a timeout or when another data packet having the sameCAN ID is received.

Because receiving packets, such as a certificate or session key, forexample, may not always reach an intended destination, the secureprotocol includes messages to resend missing packets. At a node, forexample, if the order of the packets is broken or the expected number isless than the expected, the node will transmit a message to the gatewaythrough the in-vehicle bus to resend the missing packet.

REPEAT UNIT TO GATEWAY (ID: 0x15) Byte 1 Byte 2 Byte 3 Source ID Packet#Here, the Source ID is the reporting node ID, and the packet number isthe counter value of the packet that is missing. In response to theREPEAT UNIT TO GATEWAY message, the gateway resends the packet.

Like the condition that causes a REPEAT UNIT TO GATEWAY message toissue, packets such as a certificate or ephemeral key, for example, maynot always reach the gateway. At the gateway, for example, if the orderof the packets is broken or the expected number is less than expected,the gateway will transmit a message to the node through the in-vehiclebus requesting that the node to resend the missing packet. Here, theDestination ID is the gateway ID, and the packet number is the countervalue of the packet that is missing. In response to the REPEAT GATEWAYTO UNIT message, the node resends the packet.

REPEAT GATEWAY TO UNIT (ID: 0x16) Byte 1 Byte 2 Byte 3 Destination IDPacket #

In some communication sessions there is sometimes a need to changesession keys during a power cycle/ignition cycle. Since trusted ECU'sand the gateway share the same key during a communication cycle and bothoperate on the same one-way function, the gateway may encrypt or wrapthe new session key (generated using a random number generator or a keyestablishment process) with the old session key and the node decryptsthe new key with the old session key by exchanging the messages shown inFIG. 5. Updates to the session key is initiated by an UPDATE KEY messagefrom the gateway. Current implementations of the secure protocol use akey update function such as an advanced encryption standard (AES)128-bit key algorithm. An UPDATE KEY message may comprise packetsformatted as follows.

UPDATE KEY (ID: 0x17) Byte Byte 1 Byte 2 Byte 3 Byte 4 Byte 5 Byte 6Byte 7 8 Destination ID Counter PayloadThe payload data may be formatted as:

Byte Byte Byte Byte Byte Byte 1 2 Byte 3 4 Byte 5 — N N − 1 N — OverallLength Key Length Encrypted New Session KeyWhen all the packets received and all REPEAT messages are processed (ifneeded), the nodes inform the gateway of the successful completion ofthe process by sending an ACKNOWLEDGE message. When all the nodesacknowledge extracting the new session key, the gateway broadcasts asingle message UPDATE KEY END.

UPDATE KEY END (ID: 0x18) Byte 1 0xFFIn the interim, while the nodes are updating the session key, the nodescontinue signing their data with the old session key until they receivethe UPDATE KEY END message. Secure message verifying is performed usingboth the old and new session keys in the interim in which the newsession key is processed first, followed in turn by the old session key.Once the UPDATE KEY END message is broadcasted, all nodes switch tosigning with the new session key.

Any node can report an error. A failed certification verification at anode, for example, may flag an error. When an error occurs, theECU/domain controller, for example may report an error to the gateway inthe following format.

Byte 1 Byte 2 Byte 3 Destination ID Error #

Each of the methods and descriptions of the protocol described hereinmay stand alone, and in alternative implementations, may be combinedwith other protocols including in-vehicle networks that employend-to-end encryption that maintain confidentiality. In one alternative,the encryption devices (e.g., the ECUs, domain controllers, gateway,etc.) encrypt the secured non-payload data, which is recombined with theunencrypted routing information, such as for example, the sourceidentification, destination identification, and padded sourceidentifiers (e.g., the truncated source IDs preceded by padding). Inalternative implementations, the secure protocol has a different rangeor more bus identifiers (IDs) and/or functional messages. In thisalternative, the secure protocol also serves as a framework for thedevelopment and deployment of other IDs, messages, ciphers, and/orhashing functions allowing migration to other in-vehicle communicationlinks/busses and/or later developed communication links/busses.

ID Message 0x11 HELLO 0x12 GATEWAY CERTIFICATE 0x13 UNIT CERTIFICATE0x14 SESSION KEY 0x15 REPEAT UNIT TO GATEWAY 0x16 REPEAT GATEWAY TO UNIT0x17 UPDATE KEY 0x18 UPDATE KEY END 0x19 ACKNOWLEDGE 0x10 ERROR 0x01SIGNATUREIn an alternative, the ECUs/domain controllers may join a secure sessionwhen ECUs/domain controllers' presence are detected on the in-vehiclebus in response to a state of health message (SOH) that is broadcastedon a CAN bus. In this alternative, the node retrieves the session keythrough the secure protocol described above after the node broadcastsits presence on the bus via a SOH message. When the node stopsbroadcasting a SOH message, the protocol executes the key updatingfunction. Alternatively, SOH messages may supplement the secureprotocol. In this implementation the SOH supplements the secure protocolby establishing that the node is operating correctly. It serves as anintegrity check. In another alternative, the encryption and decryptionof the secure protocol is done in hardware exclusively without appendingthe HMAC signature to ECU/domain controller data through an AESaccelerator module that performs AES128 encryption and decryption. Inthis alternative, 304 and 306 of FIG. 3 are replaced by AES acceleratorthat perform encryption and decryption with 128-bit keys according tothe AES in hardware. And, another alternate may include any combinationsof structure and functions described herein (in thisdisclosure/application and patent) or shown in one or more or each ofthe figures. These systems or methods are formed from any combination ofstructure and function described.

This new secure protocol can be applied to existing topologies andmigrate to developing topologies too. For example, while an exampleimplementation of the secure protocol has been described with respect tothe limited packet size of eight bytes that is used in classical CAN,alternative secure protocols secures flexible data-rates (FD) and packetsizes that are provisioned by the implementing network protocol of thevehicle. This means that the secure protocol protects networks that havelarger or variable payload lengths (e.g., CAN 13-byte, CAN FD 64-byte,bulk download protocols, etc.), may use two or more different bit-rates,and adapt to the higher bandwidths used in developing technologies. Inone example, the protocol secures a CAN frame with two different bitrates making the network backward compatible with controllers that havemore limited packet lengths. One example secure protocol has largerpayloads such as data frames that have up to sixty-four bits whileprotected by CRCs (e.g., CAN FD 64-byte).

The elements, systems, engines, methods, modules, applications anddescriptions described herein may also be programmed in one or morecontrollers, signal processors, specialized processors and one or moreprocessors and a coprocessor (e.g., a coprocessor is a processordistinct from a main processor, that performs additional functions toassist the main processor) through computer program code. The processorsmay be arranged in a parallel processing structure and/ormultiprocessing structure. Parallel processing may run on a computercontaining two or more processors running simultaneously. Parallelprocessing differs from multiprocessing in the way a task may bedistributed.

The RoT, encryption, and decryption engines may comprise a processor ora portion of a program that executes or supports the describedcryptographic functions. The series of steps that describe the secureprotocol, involve two or more entities that is designed to accomplishthe task of securing the communication of an in-vehicle bus. A “seriesof steps” means that the protocol has a sequence from start to finish.Unless noted, each step is completed in turn, with no step taken beforethe previous step is completed with some steps being optional such asthe ACKNOWLEDGE message. “Involve two or more entities” means that atleast two or more entities are required to establish the protocol (e.g.,a node and a gateway, one or more nodes and a gateway, etc.). Finally,“designed to accomplish the task of securing the communication of anin-vehicle bus” means that the protocol must secure the communicationacross an in-vehicle bus. Something that looks like the protocol butdoes not accomplish the task of securing the communication of thein-vehicle bus is not a secure protocol.

In some systems, the elements, systems, methods, engines anddescriptions described herein may be encoded in a non-transitory signalbearing storage medium, a computer-readable medium, or may compriselogic stored in a memory that may be accessible through an interface.Some signal-bearing storage medium or computer-readable medium comprisea memory that is unitary or separate (e.g., local or remote) from thevehicle. If the descriptions are performed by software, the software mayreside in a memory resident to or interfaced to the one or moreprocessors, ECUs, domain controllers, and/or gateways.

The memory or storage disclosed may retain an ordered listing ofexecutable instructions for implementing the functions described above.The machine-readable medium may selectively be, but not limited to, anelectronic, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, ora semiconductor medium. A non-exhaustive list of examples of amachine-readable medium includes: a portable magnetic or optical disk, avolatile memory, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read-OnlyMemory (ROM), an Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), or a database management system. When messages, ECUs, domaincontrollers, gateway, and/or other device functions or steps are said tobe “responsive to” or occur “in response to” a function or message, themessages, ECUs, domain controllers, gateway, and/or other devicefunctions or steps necessarily occur as a result of the message orfunction. It is not sufficient that a function or act merely follow oroccur subsequent to another.

The disclosed system and process provide a secure communication protocolthat secures communication over an insecure infrastructure such as for avehicle through a vehicle bus. A vehicle may comprise, withoutlimitation, a car, bus, truck, tractor, motorcycle, bicycle, tricycle,quadricycle, or other cycle, ship, submarine, boat or other watercraft,helicopter, drone, airplane or other aircraft, train, tram or otherrailed vehicle, spaceplane or other spacecraft, and any other type ofvehicle whether currently existing or after-arising this disclosure. Inother words, it comprises a device or structure for transporting personsor things. The secure protocol creates secure communication over anunsecure vehicle bus, such as a CAN bus, that may communicate acrossremote wireless and/or landline channels while ensuring the integrityand provenance of the data transmitted across it. This means thatin-vehicle systems can communicate with each other over an openinfrastructure to an arbitrary remote or local destination and bereasonably sure that it will be received in tact and protected. Thesecure protocol provides a series of steps that enable two or moreparties to exchange information through cryptographic operations thateffectively preclude or disrupt physically connected attacks and theirexploits among others because they are not privy to the cryptographicoperations. Using cryptographic parameters, the secure protocol isinteroperable with independent programs and libraries. By allowingmigration from one cryptographic primitive to the next, the secureprotocol is extensible, efficient, and updatable allowing it to defendagainst new threats and keep up with improvements that come with changesin technology.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or will become,apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the figuresand detailed description. It is intended that all such additionalsystems, methods, features and advantages be included within thisdescription, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for securing communication across anin-vehicle bus, comprising: establishing a connection between a gatewayin a vehicle and the in-vehicle bus; generating a session key at thegateway within the vehicle; transmitting a public key certificate and anephemeral key to the gateway and an electronic control unit of thevehicle; generating a shared secret at the gateway and the electroniccontrol unit, respectively; encrypting the session key with the sharedsecret at the gateway; receiving the encrypted session key through thein-vehicle bus at the electronic control unit; and decrypting theencrypted session key based on the shared secret generated at theelectronic control unit.
 2. The method of claim 1 where the in-vehiclebus comprises a Controller Area Network utilizing packet sizesprovisioned by an in-vehicle bus protocol.
 3. The method of claim 1further comprising establishing a wireless connection between a nodecapable of communicating on the in-vehicle bus and a node remote fromthe vehicle.
 4. The method of claim 1 where the electronic control unitcomprises a plurality of electronic control units consolidated into adomain controller.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprisingtransmitting one of the public key certificates and ephemeral keys fromthe gateway to the electronic control module.
 6. The method of claim 1further comprising transmitting one of the public key certificates andthe ephemeral keys from the electronic control module to the gateway. 7.The method of claim 1 where the session key is valid during only onecommunication session that occurs during an ignition cycle of thevehicle.
 8. The method of claim 1 where the session key is valid duringonly one communication session that occurs during a power cycle.
 9. Themethod of claim 1 where the in-vehicle network comprises a ControllerArea Network bus utilizing more than one bit-rate.
 10. The method ofclaim 1 where the session key, the public key certificates, andephemeral keys are transmitted across the in-vehicle network in eightbyte packets.
 11. The method of claim 1 where the in-vehicle network isencrypted end-to-end.
 12. The method of claim 1 further comprisingtransmitting data from the electronic control unit across the vehiclebus encrypted by the session key.
 14. The method of claim 1 where theelectronic control unit communicates with a second vehicle through theencrypted session key.
 15. The method of claim 1 where the gatewayincludes a Root of Trust that securely stores the public keycertificates and ephemeral keys.
 16. A system that secures thecommunication across a network, comprising: a gateway within a vehiclethat generates a session key and sends and receives a cryptographiccertificate and an ephemeral key from the in-vehicle network; anelectronic control unit within the vehicle that receives thecryptographic certificate and the ephemeral key sent by the gateway andsends the cryptographic certificate and the ephemeral key received bythe gateway; wherein the gateway and the electronic control unitgenerate a shared secret, respectively, in response to the cryptographiccertificate and the ephemeral key received by the gateway and theelectronic control unit, respectively; and wherein the gateway encryptsand transmits the session key with the shared secret in response tovalidation of the cryptographic certificate received from the electroniccontrol unit.
 17. The system of claim 16 where the gateway includes acryptographic processor.
 18. The system of claim 16 where the in-vehiclenetwork comprises a Controller Area Network bus utilizing more than onebit-rate and packet sizes provisioned by an in-vehicle bus protocol. 19.The system of claim 16 where the shared secret is generated in responseto a hash based method authentication code.
 20. The system of claim 16different cryptographic certificates are hardwired into the gateway andthe electronic control module, respectively.
 21. A computer readablemedium storing a program that secures communication across a network,comprising: computer program code that establishes a connection betweena gateway in a vehicle and an in-vehicle bus; computer program code thatgenerates a session key at the gateway within the vehicle; computerprogram code that transmits a public key certificate and an ephemeralkey to the gateway and an electronic control unit of the vehicle;computer program code that generates a shared secret at the gateway andthe electronic control unit, respectively; computer program code thatencrypts the session key with the shared secret at the gateway; computerprogram code that receives the encrypted session key through thein-vehicle bus at the electronic control unit; and computer program codethat decrypts the encrypted session key based on the shared secretgenerated at the electronic control unit.
 22. A vehicle, comprising: anin-vehicle network; a gateway within the vehicle that generates asession key and sends and receives a cryptographic certificate and anephemeral key across the in-vehicle network; an electronic control unitwithin the vehicle that receives the cryptographic certificate and theephemeral key sent by the gateway and sends the cryptographiccertificate and the ephemeral key received by the gateway; wherein thegateway and the electronic control unit generate a shared secret,respectively, in response to the cryptographic certificate and theephemeral key received by the gateway and the electronic control unit,respectively; and wherein the gateway encrypts and transmits the sessionkey with the shared secret in response to validation of thecryptographic certificate received from the electronic control unit.